Joshua Victor is my first and middle name. I was named after Joshua in the Old Testament, who was a Victor in his own right, leading the Children of Israel into the promised Land. But this Joshua was a foreshadowing of the New and Greater Joshua, who would be the Victor over sin, death, and the devil, and would lead the New Children of Israel into the Promised Land of Heaven. This is none other than Jesus Christ, who by His death and resurrection is the True Victor.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Sermon on John 20:19-31, for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, Quasimodo Geniti (1 Year Lectionary), "Confessing Thomas!"

Sermon Outline, expanded:

**Church Trivia--the Latin name for "Quasimodo Geniti" Sunday comes from the words of the Introit: "Like newborn... (babes crave pure spiritual milk)" (1 Peter 1)--and the character in the novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was named "Quasimodo" because he was abandoned at the church on that Sunday, and the priest gave the name.**

On Easter evening, what still trapped the
disciples? Fear. John 20:19? What did Jesus’ words, actions, and presence
bring to the hearts and minds of the troubled disciples? Peace. John 20:19-20.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you…not as the world gives…”
(John 16)

When Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the
disciples, what did He empower them to do? Forgive sins (of the repentant),
withhold forgiveness (from the unrepentant) John 20:21-23. How does the
church still do this publicly today? Matthew 16:19; 18:18. When does it
happen in the worship service? Confession and absolution, start of
service. Why are ministers of Christ authorized to speak this message? By
Christ’s authority, spoken in John 20. Do they have independent authority
to change the terms of His forgiveness? No! Can only mirror the
forgiveness that Christ has already won. Mouthpieces to announce His
forgiveness to all who turn from sin, and to call to repentance those who
do not. When is the forgiveness of sins to be “withheld” or “bound?” When a
person does not confess their sin before God. 1 John 1:8-10. For what reason?
To bring them back to repentance so that they may finally be forgiven.

Thomas was tested whether he would believe the
report of the resurrection of Jesus, without having seen it. The other
disciples had already seen, had a leg up on him. Often called “doubting
Thomas”—which unfortunately highlights his lowest point—but if we were to
focus on the apex of his faith, in just a few verses later, he might be
called “Confessing Thomas!” or “Believing Thomas!” But Thomas experience
helps us because Thomas was stuck
where many other people are stuck—can’t believe in the resurrection of the
body. Now if a doubter or skeptic believes that—it’s not unusual, because it
goes against our senses. Everything we see is that death is a one-way
street. But just how far are you willing to take that? Is it an
unshakeable belief? Nothing can challenge that? There is no life after
death; no one can ever rise from the dead? Free to live that way, but have
to ignore the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. The testimonies of many
eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15 list!).

Or, what about skepticism about believing the
testimony of others? How skeptical are you willing to be? No one is
consistently an unrelenting skeptic of everything that they haven’t seen
or experienced with their own senses, or else you’d have to deny everything
known about the past, anywhere and anytime, and about things, places, and
events you’ve never seen for yourself. Everyone has a threshold of evaluating
what has compelling evidence to believe it.

How did
Thomas and Jesus both measure how he did on this test? John 20:25, 27.
Thomas: I will never believe. Jesus: do not disbelieve! How was his
unbelief transformed into real, living, confessing faith? John 20:27-28. Saw
the nail marks and spear wound—“Jesus’ credentials to suffering humanity”
(see Jesus of the Scars poem…) and knew this was the very same Jesus who
had been crucified and died on the tree. Knew that no fraud had been
perpetrated on him, and there was only one thing to say: “My Lord and My
God!” Only God could defeat death—doubt transformed to faith.

How does this encounter address the claims of
some that the resurrection is just an “idea” or a “spiritual hope”, but
doesn’t have to do with real history, and whether or not Jesus actually
came out of His grave? Had to be living, in the flesh, heart pumping,
lungs breathing, brain waves moving…real living resurrection, or it’s all
a lie and hopeless. Why does this
show that it is essential that Jesus actually was alive again? A
dead Jesus forgives no sins! A dead Jesus saves no one! What hopes and
doctrines would all be lost and shattered if Christ were not raised? 1
Corinthians 15. No rescue from sin or death.

Why must faith avoid the opposite extremes of,
on the one hand, gullibility and believing everything uncritically, and on
the other hand, being skeptical of everything and unable to believe
anything you didn’t see for yourself? Bible encourages “healthy skepticism”
to not be deceived or taken in by clever teachers, but to test everything.
Tells us to be wise, mature, reasoned. Does not encourage gullibility or naiveté. How do
we find the right “middle?” Who is at the center of faith’s “target?” Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God, and
the faithful testimony of the eyewitnesses. John 20:28-31. All of John’s
Gospel points to the importance of believing in Jesus Christ so
that we may have eternal life and be saved.